Another property owner objects to city's demands
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
Another Hillsboro property owner and longtime local businessman has been notified that his “properties are considered to be dangerous and must be removed immediately.”
Local contractor Ben Fenner told The Highland County Press that he was contacted by the Hillsboro Police Department on Saturday, Nov. 1, regarding the city’s vacant property ordinance.
“The police called my brother, Scott, and said they were trying to reach me about a complaint or a warrant,” Fenner said. “I’m not sure if they want to arrest me or what.”
The property in question, according to the city, is located at 222 Elm Street. It is known locally as the former Gross-Feibel Safe Company. Chauncey Gross, the son of Highland County Civil War veteran Jeremiah Gross, founded the Gross-Feibel Safe Company, which is located across the street from Richards Memorial Field. The company made bank safes and bank vault doors.
Fenner said he registered the property as instructed and left a $500 payment (a fee or fine) at the city building. He said he is unsure why the police want to see him.
The city administration has been asked to clarify.
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“Whenever I go into the SSD’s office, they don’t want to talk to me, and then I get a certified letter from them,” Fenner said. “I have been cleaning the property, and we hauled out 300 yards – by four feet deep – of trash, lots of it illegal dumping.”
Fenner said he has met with Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District Chief Bradley George, who, according to Fenner, said “this was all new to the fire department.”
Fenner has been the sole owner of the property since February or March of this year, he said. He had been a co-owner previously.
According to an Aug. 27, 2014 letter from Hillsboro Safety and Service Director, “During the week of Aug. 11, 2014, you stated you were still working on a plan for the building and that you would contact Chief George to do an inspection of the building. I have not received the vacant building plan to date, nor have you contacted Chief Bradley George to set up a walk-through inspection of your building.
“On Aug. 4, 2014, Randy Barr, Tim Hobgood (building inspector) and myself, conducted a visual inspection of these properties. These inspections were performed from the exterior of the buildings, as they are too dangerous to enter. Mr. Hobgood has identified your buildings as a ‘dangerous buildings (sic)’ that need to be removed immediately to eliminate any danger.”
Wilkin closed that letter by saying “This matter will now be turned over to the Hillsboro chief of police.” Copied on the letter were Mayor Drew Hastings, Chief of Police Todd Whited and Law Director Fred Beery.
On Sept. 9, 2014, the city sent an invoice to Fenner for $91.91 for the cost of “removal of unsanitary conditions, Ordinance 93.11.”
The invoice included $44.94 for city labor, $25 for site inspection, $15 for an administrative fee and $6.97 for postage.
If unpaid, the city said it would be added to Fenner’s property tax bill through the office of Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley.
Last week, Highland County resident Letcher Langston said he has had similar issues with the city administration regarding his property at 617 South East Street.
Langston, like Fenner, has made considerable improvements to his property.
A walled structure that, decades ago, housed a local grocery store is the point of contention between the city and Langston.
In a letter dated Oct. 3, 2014, the city advised Langston as follows:
“After receiving a complaint on the property located at 617 S. East Street, a walk-by inspection was conducted. It was found that your property is in violation of Section 150.05 City Ordinance of Hillsboro, the residence (sic) is dangerous to the safety of visitors, the public or to juvenile trespassers and is otherwise unsafe and poses a general health and safety hazard to the residents of Hillsboro.”
“The city has told me I have to demolish the ‘building,’” Langston told The Highland County Press. “They showed me a photo of a cracked wall. I asked if I could repair the wall and they said ‘No,’ I have to take the ‘building’ down.”
Similarly, Fenner said while he was in the process of putting a new roof on his main building at the old Gross Feibel building, a state inspector named Frank Pasternak was called to question the project, and the work stopped.
“I’m the type of person who will try to work with anyone,” Fenner said. “I even offered to sell the property – at cost – to the city. “I’m trying to work with them. But threats of fines or jail don’t help.”
Both Langston and Fenner have told The Highland County Press that other property owners are facing similar issues with the city.
Wilkin said on Oct. 24 the city has a file on all properties that are considered vacant, dangerous or blighted.
The Highland County Press requested on Oct. 24 that the city’s records custodian provide the “file on all properties that are considered vacant, dangerous or blighted.”
On Nov. 2, The HCP requested the city provide copies of all letters, emails, faxes or other public records sent and received by the city related to Section 150.05 and vacant buildings, both residential and commercial, since March 1, 2014.
The request was sent to Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin, Records Custodian Debbie Sansone, Law Director Fred Beery and City Council President Lee Koogler.
To date, The Highland County Press has not received any news releases or public advisories from the city that any building or property in the city is dangerous.